(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  United Nations Secretary-General HE Ban Ki-moon has thrown the full weight of the United Nations behind the Caribbean Community and has reiterated support for the re-construction of Haiti which, according to the New CARICOM Chair, the Hon Orette Golding is the Community’s most urgent priority.

The official opening of the 31st Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government on July 4 in Montego Bay, Jamaica had historic significance in more ways than one: It signalled the birth of the 15-member CARICOM nation some 37 years ago, established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas which was signed on the birth date of one of Jamaica’s leaders and integrationists, the Rt Hon Norman Washington Manley and thirdly, for the first tine in its 37 year history, the Caribbean Community has had a UN Secretary-General addressing its regular Conference of Heads of Government.

His Excellency, Ban Ki-moon said while the United Nations had made Haiti a priority, promises and pledges would not feed the Haitian people, rebuild its economy or restore its stable democracy. He urged other international partners to move with urgency in fulfilling their pledges to the reconstruction and restoration of Haiti.

Applauding the resilience of the Haitian people the UN Secretary-General stated that in its re-building process Haiti must ensure that its democratic processes remained as resilient and that the upcoming presidential elections to which, he said, the UN will pay close attention, were free and fair and free from fear.

Amidst the cacophony of cynical cries for the dismantling of the regional integration movement, the United Nations Secretary-General gave his full support for Community’s goals and its regional development agenda, applauding the gains the Caribbean Community had made especially in contributing to strengthening the United Nations.

Invoking Bob Marley, he said the region must now concentrate on advancing its own integration agenda and urged them to “get up, stand up and don’t give up the fight,” for the ideals of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

However, he pointed to economic development, security and climate change as issues which remained a cause for concern for the United Nations and urged the Caribbean Community to continue to push for regional unity.

With regard to Climate Change the UN Secretary-General applauded the region for its leadership and advocacy leading up to the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, December 2009 and expressed hope that more financial support would be given to the region in its bid to increase mitigation and adaptation measures for the effects of climate change, when the 16th Conference of Parties meet in Cancun, Mexico for another Climate Change conference, later this year.

Also at the Opening Ceremony, Honours were conferred on institutions and persons who had coordinated assistance to Haiti in the wake of the January 12 earthquake: Mr Ronald Jackson, Head of the Jamaica based Office of Disaster and Emergency Management received the Honours on behalf of Emergency Response Coordination; Dr Marion Bullock Ducasse received on behalf of the Emergency Health Care and Lieutenant Col. James Ogilvie, on behalf of Security and Logistic Support Coordination.

On Monday CARICOM leaders will get down to the business of a formidable agenda which include addressing the global economic crisis; the continued support for Haiti and the CSME.

Contact:  piu@caricom.org